The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-05-27
= Won by Prayer.

Cl0Veldnu Iidiluodior D"ibfos oih-
ners, and the Beecher family" has
been printed as the remark OF the
late venerable DR.. Todd OF Pittsheld,
Mass. Possibly the following anec-
lote OF the father, which | had from
his eldest son, the Rev, William II.
Beecher, may illustrate the peculiari-
ties OF his family. The old gentleman
had lost his second or third wife and
resolved to marry again. Hence at a
family gathering in Cincinnati he said:
"My children, hitherto have married
altogether to suit myself, but now |
intend to marry again, and am will
ing to marry to suit you II you
can think OF any suitable and
proper person who will have
me.6 The children put their
heads together and concluded that a
certain Mrs. Jackson, who kept q
large clearinghouse in Boston, and
was q member of Edwards church,
would make him capital wife, and 1t
was arranged for the Rev. Edward to
negotiate with Mrs. Jackson. After
waiting week or so the old gentle.
man became impatient and started
for Boston, driving to Mrs. Jackson's
house, calling for her, and unfolding
at once the object Of his mission. The
good lady was thunderstruck, pro-
tested that she had no idea OF marry
ing, and couldn't think ofsuch q thing;
it was impossible. To all OF which
the old doctor replied that he was
equally surprised. The arrangement
had been made in Cincinnati. Ed
ward was to prepare the way, and ne
had made his arrangements to preach
in Andover and Amherst and to attend
the May anniversaries, and expected,
of course, to take her with him as his
wife. At this point the good lady ex-
pressed herself as shocked, that Ed
ward had never spoken to her on the
subject; nor would it have made any
difference ii he had, as for marrying
again she could not and would not
not even the venerable and celebrated
DIR. LYMAN Beecher After q mo-
ment's pause the doctor said: My
dear Mrs. Jackson, / am sorry. you
have so much feeling about it, but !
will stay with you day or two and
we will talk the matter up" to which
the lady responded that her house
was full, she had no suitable room for
him, and could not entertain him.
40. never mind them" said the doc
tor, 81 will 60 around to Edwards
and come and take tea with you
And sure enough at tea-time the doc
tor was there and sat next to Mrs.
Jackson at the table. 1t was one OF
those large boarding-houses on Bea-
con street at which the lady OF the
house presides as q sort OF matron,
and to the tea-table OF which the
boarders kept coming and going Tor
two orr three hours. OF course the
old doctor became impatient and
kept whispering to Mrs. Jackson: l
want to see you alone!" 81 must see
you alonel" Cant you see me alone"
At length Mrs. Jackson left the table
with him and they went to room
by themselves. What then occurred,
God only knows, but the family story
is that the good lady protested, ex-
pressed her amazement, and even
said: "You must be crazy; the sub
ject is too serious and solemn to be
thought OF without prayers to God"
"Have you not prayed apouI IL.
said the doctor. "Paryed about it!
No." said Mrs. Jackson; ''have not
thought OF such at thing" LET us
pray" was the solemn response OF
Beecher, and they knelt down and
prayed. OF course the Almighty was
argued with; what a good wife Mrs.
Jackson would make him; what a
blessing it would be to her; how much
good she could do in the holy cause;
what disappointment il she did not
marry him. Then, observing her to
be in melting mood, he reached out
his hand, took hold OF hers, and said,
"Amen." Yes, and amen it was. The
grand clearinghouse was broken up,
to the surprise OF all Boston, and
Mrs. Jackson became Mrs. Lyman
Beecher, making him a capital wife, "
indeed.